Main Mall & Riverwalk Craft Market, Gaborone
Gaborone's Main Mall is the beating commercial heart of Botswana's capital — a pedestrianised strip lined with shops, street vendors and the National Museum that gives you an unfiltered feel for daily urban Botswana life. Pair it with a visit to the craft stalls clustered around the Riverwalk Shopping Centre for the best selection of locally made baskets, wood carvings and Botswana-specific souven
Shopping the Main Mall
The Main Mall runs through the centre of Gaborone and is the place to pick up Botswana-print fabrics, local SIM cards and freshly pressed juice from informal vendors. The Botswana Book Centre stocks a solid range of books on local history, wildlife and culture — a good browse before heading into the bush.
The National Museum and Art Gallery sits right on the mall and is free to enter. Its permanent collection covers San rock art, traditional crafts and the natural history of the Kalahari, giving essential context before you explore the country's wild places.
Craft Baskets & Woven Treasures
Botswana is world-famous for its Ngamiland woven baskets, made by women in the Okavango region using mokola palm and natural dyes. The geometric patterns are extraordinarily intricate and each basket is unique — they are sold at the Botswanacraft Marketing Company outlet in Gaborone and at the Riverwalk craft stalls, with prices ranging from USD 15 for small pieces to USD 200+ for large gallery-quality works.
Riverwalk's outdoor craft vendors are generally open seven days a week and welcome bargaining done respectfully. Look for ostrich-egg shell jewellery, soapstone carvings and locally designed clothing alongside the baskets.
Eating & Drinking Around the Mall
After shopping, duck into Sanitas Tea Garden in the Sanitas Herb Garden on Limpopo Drive — a tranquil cafe set among herbs and flowers that serves excellent sandwiches, quiches and Botswana rooibos tea. It's a genuine local favourite and a world away from the mall bustle.
For a cold Shake Rattle & Roll (a local cocktail tradition) or a Castle Lager, the outdoor terrace bars along the Riverwalk Shopping Centre fill up on Friday evenings with Gaborone professionals unwinding after work — an easy, friendly way to meet locals.
More of Botswana
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Botswana →
